Follow the Star

January 7, 2024 homily on Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12 by Pastor Galen

The Gold Rush

On January 24, 1848, James W. Marshall found gold at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California, setting off a chain of events that would come to be called the California Gold Rush. The first people to rush to the goldfields were the residents of California themselves and then those in surrounding territories.  But, by the beginning of 1849, word of the Gold Rush had spread around the world, and an overwhelming number of gold-seekers and merchants began to arrive from virtually every continent. 

While most of the 300,000 people who came to California during the gold rush were Americans, thousands also came from Latin America, Europe, Australia and China. These forty-niners (as they would come to be called, since 1849 was the peak year for the rush) often faced tremendous hardships, and many died while making the trip.

No doubt, like many who came before them, and many who would come after them, many of those forty-niners were simply trying to make a better life for themselves or for those who would come after them.

And so at first glance, we may not be surprised to read about the Magi (or “wise men”) in Matthew chapter 2 who set out from their home countries in the East to embark on a quest. Perhaps we might imagine that, like the forty-niners, they too were seeking wealth. Until we realize that they were actually carrying gold with them. Perhaps like many others throughout history, they were seeking status, or power. But as Magi they already had a special status in their society, frequently offering counsel to the king. Perhaps, like many who immigrated to this country, it was the freedom to practice their religion? But again, their religious practices were well respected in their home country. 

And so what was it that prompted these Magi to embark on a journey of close to 1,000 miles (each way), to bring gifts to a newborn baby in a far-off land?

The Quest to Worship the Newborn King

In many ways, the quest of the Magi was a sort of an anti-gold rush. In a worldly sense, they had little to gain. They already had great power and wealth at their disposal, and indeed, they gave much of their wealth away to a newborn king who would never rule over them, at least in an earthly sense. And, unlike the gold rush, their quest did not inspire other seekers at the time. In fact, when word about their quest spread, the reaction from King Herod and those around him was not excitement, but rather fear. 

And so what, then, was the purpose of their quest? Well, as the Magi told King Herod, they came seeking “the one who has been born king of the Jews…[for] We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matt. 2:2 NIV). Indeed, Matthew tells us that when they finally found Jesus, “they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11). Their is no indication of how their journey was viewed back home. No indication that they grew in wealth, or popularity, or status. All we know is that they offered themselves and their gifts to Jesus.

Amid a world so often motivated by greed, or self-interest, or power, or privilege, the journey of these magi to simply worship Jesus and offer him their gifts stands in stark relief. 

What Do We Seek?

This raises the question, what is it that we are seeking? What are we searching for when we come together in worship each week? (or when we gather virtually by way of reading the sermon and bulletins that are sent by mail?)

Some no doubt attend church for the connections that can be made. We come seeking community, friendship, and a place to belong. But what happens when we feel like we don’t quite fit in? What happens when the community lets us down, or when we struggle to make friends?

Others, perhaps, come seeking a word of knowledge or wisdom that can help them in their quest for self-improvement. But what happens when the preacher fails to deliver such a word? What happens when the sermon misses the mark, or when you try to implement what the pastor says, but it doesn’t seem to work?

Others may come seeking entertainment, or to find a diversion from everyday life. Still others may come seeking a place where they can exert their power or influence. But coming to church for any of these reasons will also leave someone feeling disappointed, or restless, since entertainment and opportunities for power and influence can often be found in greater quantities elsewhere.

What is it, then, that we seek when we come together for worship? The journey of the Magi reminds us, that our goal and our aim, as we gather together each week, should be to simply worship Jesus. We don’t gather seeking worldly gain, but we come together to worship Jesus simply because Jesus is worthy of our praise and adoration.

True, when we come together to worship, we are often changed. As someone pointed out to me this week, when the Magi left Jesus, they went home by a different route. When we truly encounter the living God, we are changed and transformed for the better. 

And often, when we come together in worship, we do make connections with other people. We discover that others have the same longings, and desires, and are facing similar challenges. When we gather together in worship, we discover that we are not alone on our journeys, and we find mutual blessing and encouragement in traveling together on this journey. 

But the core and essence of why we are here is to worship Jesus, and the Magi stand as shining examples of this reality.

Follow the Star

How, then, do we worship? We worship by offering our prayers and our songs of praise. We worship by bringing our tithes and offerings, offering them to God to be used for God’s purposes. We worship by hearing God’s Word and asking God to transform us more and more into Christ’s likeness. We worship by volunteering our time and talents to welcome others in, and to point others toward Christ.

Of course, worship does not just happen on Sunday mornings. Indeed, we can and should worship God all throughout the week. Work, play, and rest can all be forms of worship, when done for the honor and glory of God. 

But there are so many distractions in our lives that threaten to take our time and attention. The worries and problems of this life can so often feel overwhelming. And so our corporate times of prayer and worship provide an opportunity for us to remind ourselves and one another of our need for God, and to redirect our attention to God. 

I imagine that there were many times along the way when one or more of the Magi lost sight of the star. They needed another Magi to point it out to them. Or perhaps the challenges of the journey caused some to want to give up the quest all together and return back home. But the Magi encouraged each other not to give up the quest, not to lose sight of the purpose of their journey, and to keep following the star. And together they were able to see and worship Jesus, the true Star.

May we draw inspiration from the journey of these Magi, who came, not seeking wealth, power, or privilege, but simply to worship. May we remember that we are not the object of our own devotion, but rather may we encourage and remind one another to follow and worship the true “star” of the show: Jesus Christ. And may we too offer ourselves and our gifts to the Lord.

Amen!